Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Friday, May 18, 2007
Herbiage
I find myself on this gray, cold, rainy afternoon not tending the potager, as I intended, but instead, trying to think up nice things to write about the place where I bought nice herbs to put in the potager.
Near where I live in northern Virginia, there is a herb grower with a national reputation. I know I'm supposed to like this place. Before yesterday, the last time I was there was 5 or 6 years ago, maybe more. I hadn't gone back because my impression was that the place was only grudgingly a retail establishment. Short hours, hard to find, not logically organized and high prices on tiny plants.
But yesterday I realized I needed some herbs for the potager before mid-summer which is about when I'd get around to rooting cuttings from existing plants. And besides this would be an opportunity to add some new varieties. So off I went.
My first surprise was that they're no longer in the middle of nowhere. Their road is now surrounded by McMansions. And to their credit, they've made a few improvements. I found a good selection of the kinds of plants I was looking for - rosemaries and thymes - well-labeled, and most of them available in two sizes. I was happy to find the ones I wanted in 2 1/2" pots. They've added a few annuals and perennials to their offerings, including the Purple Smoke Baptisia that I admired on Carol's Bloom Day. I might have to go back for that one. And they're selling Route 11 Potato Chips! So, I'll probably go back because they have things I want, but I still get a chilly vibe from the place.
My purchases:
- Rosemary 'Herb Cottage' (x4)
- Thyme, Provencal
- Thyme, Golden Lemon
- Thyme, English
- Thyme, Lemon Mist
- French Tarragon (x2)
- Spearmint 'Kentucky Colonel'
- Corsican Mint
Have I mentioned that I can't live without Corsican Mint? I have to run my fingers over it every time I pass it by.
posted by Entangled at 4:19 PM ::: Permalink
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